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Ministerial media releases
The following are lists of media releases issued since the beginning of the current year by the Minister for Water, Phillip Costa, and the Minister for Energy, Ian Macdonald. To view a media release, simply click on its title.
Since September 5, 2008, all ministerial releases have been available to the community via agency websites. To view previous media releases from the Minister for Energy and the Minister for Water go to the 2008 archive.
To view media releases issued by the former Department of Water and Energy, go to media releases.
| Date | Ministerial media releases – Water |
|---|---|
| 09 Oct 2009 | Draft Bega and Brogo Rivers water sharing plan now on exhibition (PDF 39 KB) The draft Bega and Brogo Rivers water sharing plan covers the coastal catchments from the Bega River estuary and tributaries to the Upper Brogo River and Upper Bemboka, including Tanatawangalo and Candelo Creeks. The major towns of Bega and Bemboka are included in the scope of the Plan. |
| 09 Oct 2009 | Draft Murrah-Wallaga Catchment water sharing plan now on exhibition (PDF 29 KB) The draft Plan covers the coastal catchments from Nelsons Lagoon to Bobundra Creek, including the Murrah and Dry River catchments, Narira Creek and Dignams Creek catchments. It also encapsulates the towns of Cobargo and Bermagui. |
| 09 Oct 2009 | Draft Towamba River water sharing plan now on exhbition (PDF 39 KB) The draft Plan covers the coastal catchments from Wallagoot Lake to the Victorian border and includes the towns of Tathra, Merimbula, Pambula, Eden, Towamba and Wyndham. |
| 08 Oct 2009 | Planning approval granted for green offsets project (PDF 33 KB) Planning approval has been granted for a project to remove more than 1500 tonnes of salt from the Murray River catchment each year under a new partnership between the NSW Government and paper manufacturing company Norske Skog. |
| 29 Sep 2009 | Public consultationon Darling River Water Savings Project (PDF 72 KB) Public information sessions will be held at Wentworth, Menindee and Broken Hill to update the community on the Darling River Water Savings Project, which aims to reduce the amount of water lost through evaporation from Menindee Lakes. |
| 25 Sep 2009 | New rules for inland groundwater transfers (PDF 22 KB) New rules for the transfer of groundwater entitlements and allocations for inland NSW water license holders are now in place to give drought stricken irrigators more flexibility. |
| 21 Sep 2009 | Residents reminded to connect to sewer now and save thousands (PDF 23 KB) Residents in Brooklyn and Dangar Island should take advantage of free installation of equipment to connect their home to the new sewerage system and potentially save thousands of dollars. |
| 15 Sep 2009 | The first general security allocation in the southern Murray Darling Basin (PDF 22 KB) Allocation of 25 per cent for general security licence holders in the Lower Darling. |
| 01 Sep 2009 | New draft water sharing plans for Tweed now on exhibition (PDF 24 KB) New water sharing rules for Tweed are now on public exhibition under a plan to protect water for all users and the environment for the next 10 years. |
| 27 Aug 2009 | Minister opens Orange stormwater harvesting plant (PDF 30 KB) Oranges award winning stormwater harvesting project is expected to deliver an additional 1,300 megalitres to the town annually. |
| 27 Aug 2009 | Minister opens new sewage treatment plant for Cudal (PDF 22 KB) The Minister for Water opened the $3.7 million Cudal sewerage treatment plant in Cabonne Shire, providing better protection for public health and the environment. |
| 04 Aug 2009 | New environmental water rules now in place (PDF 42 KB) New rules to access water in several costal water systems are now in effect under a plan to protect water for all users and the environment for the next 10 years. |
| 04 Aug 2009 | NSW Government $49,300 grant to help the Eastern Suburbs be more water wise (PDF 35 KB) The funding to Randwick Council will go to constructing six individual and permanent interactive water education displays to form an educational trail. |
| 01 Aug 2009 | Applications for the Peter Cullen Post Graduate Scholarship now open (PDF 93 KB) Applications for the Professor Peter Cullen Post Graduate Scholarship to support specialist research into water are now open. |
| 27 Jul 2009 | NSW Government provides an additional $1.5 million for sewerage upgrades (PDF 155 KB) The NSW Government is providing more than $1.5 million to Parkes Shire Council to complete the Trundle and Tullamore sewerage schemes. |
| 22 Jul 2009 | Independent review into Wyangala Dam access options (PDF 22 KB) The Hon. Ian Armstrong OBE will undertake an independent review of future access to Wyangala Dam and surrounding community facilities. |
| 21 Jul 2009 | $870,000 boost for Cap and Pipe the Bores Program (PDF 155 KB) The auction of water in the Great Artesian Basin has raised $870,000 to cap and pipe more properties in the region. |
| 20 Jul 2009 | New $180 million water storage opens (PDF 34 KB) The Shannon Creek Water Storage facility, designed to secure the future water supplies of communities in Coffs Harbour and the Clarence Valley, officially opened. |
| 20 Jul 2009 | $96 million to bring recycled water to Coffs Harbour (PDF 35 KB) Farms, businesses and local parks across Coffs Harbour will be connected to a network of recycled water pipes with the opening of the Coffs Harbour Water Reclamation Plant. |
| 10 Jul 2009 | NSW water embargo – deadline extended to apply for an exemption (PDF 83 KB) The NSW Minister for Water has extended until 17 July the period for people to lodge their request for exemptions from the embargo on environmental water trades to the Federal Government, so that parties who signed contracts before 29 May 2009 are not penalised. |
| 01 Jul 2009 | Water Sharing Plan for the NSW Border Rivers Regulated River Water Source (PDF 76 KB) The NSW Border Rivers water sharing plan will govern how water in the NSW half of the catchment can be pumped, stored and used. |
| 16 Jun 2009 | New jobs fund for Western Sydney (PDF 78 KB) The NSW Government is providing $12 million over four years to encourage jobs growth in Western Sydney. |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Investing in water and sewer services for the Hunter (PDF 79 KB) A record $181.7 million will be spent on water and wastewater infrastructure for the Hunter in the NSW Government's 2009-10 budget, supporting more than 500 jobs for the region. |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Investing in sewer upgrades for the Illawarra (PDF 77 KB) The NSW Government will provide $11.3 million in 2009-10 to continue a $271 million program to upgrade Illawarra sewage treatment plants. |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Investing in rural and regional water and sewer services (PDF 79 KB) In rural NSW $61.7 million will go towards the continuation of the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program. |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Investing in the Sutherland Shire (PDF 78 KB) The NSW Government will spend a share of $338.5 million in the Sutherland Shire to complete construction of Sydney's $1.9 billion desalination project. |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Investing in Western Sydney water, sewer and recycling (PDF 128 KB) More than $250 million will be spent directly in Western Sydney on capital works projects under the water portfolio, supporting 270 jobs through recycling projects alone. |
| 12 Jun 2009 | Cutting red tape for plumbers: a single set of rules across NSW
(PDF 33 KB) Plumbers in NSW will soon be governed by a single standard no matter where in the state they are working. |
| 09 Jun 2009 | NSW Government funds $400,000 for Lithgow and Oberon's town water supplies (PDF 74 KB) The NSW Government will provide Lithgow Council with $400,000 in funding to help ailing water supplies in Oberon Dam |
| 28 May 2009 | NSW Government to guarantee environmental water purchasing is fair (PDF 75 KB) NSW will act swiftly to balance water buyback across Murray–Darling Basin States, including an embargo on future trades of environmental water until a better balance can be struck. |
| 27 May 2009 | Rees Government provides $630,000 for Trundle STP (PDF 74 KB) The NSW Government will provide $630,000 to Parkes Shire Council towards the construction of Trundle Sewage Treatment Plant. |
| 26 May 2009 | Water auction to provide stimulus for Great Artesian Basin (PDF 75 KB) The 1,200 million litres of water saved through the State and Commonwealth Government's Cap and Pipe the Bores Program will be auctioned in the Great Artesian Basin next month. |
| 24 May 2009 | Have your say on Sydney's water future (PDF 77 KB) NSW Water Minister encourages residents of Sydney, the Blue Mountains and Illawarra to participate in an online survey to have their say on the future of water management. |
| 21 May 2009 | $77 million boost to Hawkesbury Nepean welcomed (PDF 34 KB) The NSW Government has welcomed a $77.4 million recovery package for the Hawkesbury Nepean River, which will restore the river system's health and improve the ecology and water quality. |
| 20 May 2009 | Peter Cullen Postgraduate Scholarship awarded to wetland scientist (PDF 74 KB) Winner of the inaugural Peter Cullen Postgraduate Scholarship announced at the AWA Awards Dinner held in Darling Harbour. |
| 20 May 2009 | Minister opens Stroud STP (PDF 77 KB) New $11.1 million Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Stroud officially opened. |
| 15 May 2009 | Minister welcomes end to red alerts for blue green algae in Murray (PDF 74 KB) All red alerts for blue green algae along the Murray River have been lifted. |
| 13 May 2009 | Irrigators encouraged to participate in water sharing plan survey (PDF 87 KB) Iirrigators from areas across NSW encouraged to participate in a voluntary survey that will help build a more detailed profile of the State's irrigation industry. |
| 07 May 2009 | Private sector recycling licence will create jobs in Western Sydney and save precious drinking water (PDF 57 KB)
The NSW Government has granted approval to a new player in Sydney’s recycled water market that will attract $100 million of private sector investment and create 64 construction jobs while saving billions of litres of water each year. |
| 17 Apr 2009 | Changing algae status in the Murray (PDF 122 KB) The algae outbreak in the Murray River is changing and reminded holidaymakers to check the Government's tollfree 1800 phone number for the latest information on affected waterways. |
| 16 Apr 2009 | Green light for Nambucca Heads sewerage augmentation (PDF 80 KB) NSW Water Minister has signed off an application from Nambucca Shire Council to fund 25 percent of the upgrade to the Nambucca Heads Sewerage Treatment Plant. |
| 09 Apr 2009 | NSW Government helps fund Walgett Shire water meters (PDF 76 KB) $160,650 in NSW Government funding to help Walgett Shire Council buy new water meters for Walgett and Collarenebri. |
| 09 Apr 2009 | NSW Government funds emergency drought works for Wellington and Geurie water supplies (PDF 76 KB) $100,000 towards emergency drought works to improve the security of Wellington and Geurie water supplies. |
| 09 Apr 2009 | NSW Government helps improve safety of Quipolly Dam (PDF 76 KB) $148,000 in funding from the NSW Government to help improve the safety of Quipolly Dam, located north of Quirindi. |
| 08 Apr 2009 | Algal hotline to assist holidaymakers (PDF 82 KB) Easter holidaymakers are being pointed towards a toll-free 1800 phone number for the latest information on algae-affected waterways. |
| 03 Apr 2009 | Bill passed to empower Office of the Hawkesbury-Nepean (PDF 76 KB) Legislation has been passed in the NSW Parliament overnight to empower the new Office of the Hawkesbury–Nepean. |
| 18 Mar 2009 | NSW gives safe passage for Toorale water (PDF 76 KB) The Murray and Darling River systems will receive a significant boost in environmental flows as water recovered from Toorale Station is given safe passage through the Menindee Lakes. |
| 10 Mar 2009 | 300th school receives rainwater tank rebate (PDF 80 KB) Penshurst Public School has become the 300th school across greater Sydney to receive a rainwater tank rebate from the NSW Government. |
| 06 Mar 2009 | NSW Government welcomes Snowy River Report (PDF 82 KB) Release of the first report of the independent Snowy Scientific Committee into the adequacy of environmental flows in the Snowy River. |
| 06 Mar 2009 | Grants open for water education projects (PDF 80 KB) $375,000 in grants for councils and community organisations throughout greater Sydney to increase awareness of water wise practices. |
| 03 Mar 2009 | NSW calls for equitable water buyback between Murray-Darling States (PDF 76 KB) NSW supports a fair and equitable water trading system across the Basin to ensure strategic and responsible water buyback. |
| 26 Feb 2009 | Hunter water sharing plan recommences (PDF 80 KB) The Hunter Regulated River and Glennies Creek Water Sharing Plan has been switched back on following its suspension in 2006 due to the drought. |
| 20 Feb 2009 | Increased water allocations for the Belubula River (PDF 77 KB) The water allocation for high security users on the Belubula River has increased to 100 per cent of entitlement. |
| 19 Feb 2009 | North-West NSW floods reach Menindee Lakes (PDF 86 KB) Localised flooding at Bourke and other parts of the State's north west will increase flows in the Darling River, with between 70 and 100 gigalitres expected to flow through to Menindee Lakes. |
| 18 Feb 2009 | Increased water allocations for Macquarie-Cudgegong Rivers (PDF 85 KB) Macquarie-Cudgegong general security users can now access up to nine per cent of their licensed water entitlement. |
| 18 Feb 2009 | Minister visits Coonamble to discuss local water utility report (PDF 86 KB) Minister for Water visits Coonamble to discuss with councils from around the region the findings of an independent inquiry into non-metropolitan water utilities. |
| 09 Feb 2009 | Minister visits Queanbeyan to discuss local water utility report (PDF 86 KB) Minister for Water visits Queanbeyan to discuss with councils from around the region the findings of an independent inquiry into non-metropolitan water utilities. |
| 07 Feb 2009 | Green light for kids to play under the sprinkler (PDF 94 KB) The Government will amend Sydney's water restrictions allowing kids to play under backyard sprinklers on hot days. |
| 04 Feb 2009 | Peel Valley water sharing plans a priority (PDF 86 KB) The plans will set long-term water sharing rules that will govern how the Peel Valley's water can be pumped, stored, used and traded. |
| 30 Jan 2009 | Rees Government helps secure water supply for Daysdale (PDF 89 KB) $6,000 in NSW Government funding for Corowa Shire Council to increase the water supply of Daysdale, a small village near Corowa in south-west NSW. |
| 30 Jan 2009 | Rees Government helps fund water meters in Hay (PDF 90 KB) $79,350 in NSW Government funding to help Hay Shire Council buy new water meters for non-potable water services. |
| 29 Jan 2009 | Reckless comments threaten future water and sewerage service (PDF 111 KB) NSW Water Minister lambasts the State Opposition for scaremongering and spreading misinformation in relation to the Government's independent inquiry into non-metropolitan water utilities. |
| 28 Jan 2009 | Minister visits Inverell to discuss local water utility report (PDF 86 KB) Minister for Water visits Inverell to discuss with northern NSW councils the findings of an independent inquiry into non-metropolitan water utilities. |
| 23 Jan 2009 | More water provided to drought stricken Wakool landholders (PDF 86 KB) 30 gigalitres of water is being released into the Murray's Wakool River system to provide much needed stock and domestic water to landholders and help replenish the environment. |
| 16 Jan 2009 | Draft Coffs Harbour Water Sharing Plan on public exhibition (PDF 98 KB) The Coffs Harbour Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources Water Sharing Plan will set rules as to how water from the region's unregulated rivers and alluvial groundwater systems can be captured, pumped, stored, used and traded for the next 10 years. |
| 15 Jan 2009 | Reminder to comment on draft Central Coast Water Sharing Plan (PDF 96 KB) Time was running out for the local community to comment on the Draft Central Coast Water Sharing Plan which is currently on public exhibition. |
| 15 Jan 2009 | Minister welcomes water allocation increases (PDF 85 KB) Significant pre-Christmas rainfall has boosted water availability across the Murray and Murrumbidgee valleys, allowing for increases to general security license holders in both valleys. |
| 14 Jan 2009 | Minister releases Independent Local Water Utilities Report (PDF 88 KB) NSW Water Minister releses the independent report on the findings of the Government's inquiry into regional water and sewerage services. |
| Date | Ministerial media releases – Energy |
|---|---|
| 25 Jul 2009 | 50 new jobs for regional NSW (PDF 36 KB) Australia's largest electricity network operator, Country Energy, opens applications for 50 new jobs. |
| 25 Jun 2009 | Opposition energy plan to cost families more (PDF 26 KB) The Government is investing millions of dollars to help commercialise large scale renewable energy projects, giving a significant boost to the State's solar, wind, biogas and geothermal technologies. |
| 23 Jun 2009 | Solar bonus scheme for NSW announced (PDF 31 KB) A new solar bonus scheme will support people in NSW who produce renewable energy through roof-top solar panels and feed it back into the grid. |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Record $3.5 billion investment in energy (PDF 85 KB) The NSW Government will break the record on energy spending, delivering a massive $3.5 billion energy program across NSW. |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Central Coast benefits from $141 million energy boost (PDF 38 KB) Delta Electricity will spend $43.4 million finalising construction and commissioning of the Colongra Gas Turbine generators at Munmorah. |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Hunter benefits from $515 million electricity boost (PDF 40 KB) EnergyAustralia will spend $231 million throughout its Hunter distribution area, as part of its total capital expenditure of $1.3 billion. |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Regional NSW to benefit from $713 million electricity boost (PDF 39 KB) Key priorities include major electricity network upgrade programs in the Far North Coast, Mid North Coast and South Coast regions. |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Western Sydney benefits from $336 million electricity boost (PDF 38 KB) Around 120 new jobs will be supported in Western Sydney as part of Integral Energy's plans to deliver its network capital program in 2009-10. |
| 12 Jun 2009 | Electrical engineering cadets wanted
(PDF 34 KB) Job opportunities are available for engineering cadets to play a vital role in planning, designing, constructing and maintaining Australia's largest electricity network, |
| 05 Jun 2009 | Twenty new jobs in regional NSW (PDF 29 KB) Country Energy is looking to recruit people with electrical trades backgrounds who are interested in becoming design project officers in regional NSW, |
| 04 Jun 2009 | 213 apprentices graduate onto the frontline (PDF 57 KB) 213 apprentices have graduated into full-time work joining the ranks of electricians, line workers and cables jointers working on the frontline across the State's electricity network. |
| 03 Jun 2009 | New laws to protect vital power cables passes Parliament (PDF 26 KB) People who damage or interfere with electricity supply cables will face tougher penalties, after new laws to protect the vital infrastructure passed through NSW Parliament. |
| 21 May 2009 | $77 million boost to Hawkesbury Nepean welcomed (PDF 34 KB) The NSW Government has developed a package of projects that will see more water available for the River, help prevent weed and algae growth, and help local farmers to water their crops more efficiently. |
| 20 May 2009 | NSW Government provides consumer protection package to combat increases in electricity prices (PDF 35 KB) The NSW Government unveils a $272 million compensation package to help families and pensioners meet IPART's electricity price rises. |
| 13 May 2009 | Gas Supply Amendment (Ombudsman Scheme) Bill 2009 passes through Parliament (PDF 29 KB) Operators of gas networks will now be held accountable to retail customers through the independent Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW Scheme. |
| 08 May 2009 | Emu Plains $5.8 million electricity upgrade complete (PDF 25 KB) Completion of the $5.8 million upgrade of the Emu Plains zone substation which will meet the growing energy needs of local residents and businesses. |
| 28 Apr 2009 | Legislation fast tracked to protect vital power cables (PDF 28 KB) The NSW Government is fast tracking new legislation to prevent unnecessary power outages across NSW. |
| 19 Apr 2009 | Five point plan to power NSW's future (PDF 81 KB) The NSW Government is delivering a five-point plan to further secure Sydney's power supply which will complement the largest energy infrastructure program in the State's history. |
| 08 Apr 2009 | $8.7 million energy upgrade to strengthen power supply on Mid North Coast (PDF 25 KB) $8.7 million project to upgrade power supplies in the Coffs Harbour. |
| 05 Apr 2009 | Maintenance work to strengthen Sydney's energy supply (PDF 25 KB) A range of measures have been put in place to allow essential maintenance work to be carried out on Sydney's energy supply. |
| 04 Apr 2009 | Statement from Energy Minister (PDF 23 KB) The NSW Energy Minister has called for an urgent meeting and report from EnergyAustralia into the two recent power outages in Sydney. |
| 12 Mar 2009 | Government to push for reduction in proposed electricity increases (PDF 26 KB) The NSW Government expressed its concern on proposed energy price increases from IPART that would see hardworking families faced with higher power bills. |
| 10 Mar 2009 | GreenPower customer numbers continue to climb (PDF 64 KB) The latest quarterly GreenPower figures show that the number of Australians purchasing GreenPower continues to climb and that NSW sells more GreenPower than any other state. |
| 27 Feb 2009 | 168 new bright sparks line up for a secure future (PDF 41 KB) 168 new apprentices have joined the ranks at EnergyAustralia to help deliver a planned $8.5 billion expansion of the electricity network |
| 27 Feb 2009 | NSW sets target for Energy Savings Scheme (PDF 33 KB) The NSW Government annouces the target for a new state-wide mandatory energy efficiency scheme for electricity retailers at the Government's Green Skills summit in Sydney. |
| 20 Jan 2009 | Power boost to benefit families near Cowra (PDF 59 KB) The NSW Government is investing more than $800,000 to upgrade its electricity network south west of Cowra, to improve power supply reliability for around 700 customers in the area. |
| 15 Jan 2009 | NSW's first carbon storage search begins on Central Coast (PDF 100 KB) Drilling has commenced near the Lake Munmorah Power Station on the State's Central Coast, which is located near a pilot carbon capture plant. |
| 13 Jan 2009 | New apprentices to power the future of regional NSW (PDF 57 KB) 59 apprentices have started their careers with Country Energy. |